New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-19


great awlxwardness, but did not know what 10
saw and was silent. lie went on suddenly, as IL
with a gasp II wanted to sec you very much'
have so much to say. though am q stranger,
or you think me one and-and am afraid TO pegin,
Your apsyy er means much to me-. Then he loved
the child But there was something behind bis
words-some obstacle, l was certain OF that-some
past to confess, something that made him doubtful
of the future.
"Why are YOU afraid P' / asked but f6r q mo-
mont or ITO he made no answer. waited, looking
at him. wondering again Where before had looked
int, those grave almost sad eyes.
"DA YOU remember Thomas ?" he asked abruptly
Thomas Lobb 7"
nearly jumped of my chair. But no, it could
not be
81 am Thomas, he said simply. II used to
clean your knives and boots, and you bought my
mo,ner a mange. L have never forgot your KIND
ness 1 have often longed to see you and thank
you
But where havc you been all these years? ?"
asked, still gasping with establishment.
40 many places. | was In England for long
time at hospital; but you were abroad, and
though | tried 1 could not find your address. Be
sides was afraid. | had better say 1t ut once,
Inc went on desperately "but did not want to
see your daughter again. 1 have been in love
with her all my life She was goddess to me-a
queen. l never even dreamed OF hoping. met
her again all in moment one night at Rome
was thinking of her and looked up, and she was
there She did rot know me- she does not now ;
but knew her-I did directly-though she was only
five when sGw her last.
Ho hurried over the words quickly, as If he
wished me TO know the gist Of what lie had come to
say quickly as possible.
"Whcrc is your mothcr?r asked, thinking OF
the POOR soul with the Cornish accent carrying the
skinny little baby in her arms, and of his father
as saw him first, n dying man. warming his long
thin hands by the fire in the empty house
My mother does not keep mange now, he
said with short laugh / think l should have
known him before if he had laughed "Shc is rich
and lives near my sister, who is married to dia-
mond merchant in South Africa. II sounds terribly
prcposterous, does il not?'
But tell me about yourself I said. How is
It that YOU went away Thomas Lobb and come back
DR. Mllet of Rome? II is too nuzding altogether
"I found my rich uncle, he answered. 1 re-
member telling you that my mother thought
might and did. One always finds a rich uncle IN
a story but | found mine in Melbourne. lie had
married and lost both wife and child, and was Just
going off TO tho diamond fields in South Africa
lie took me in hand first, and was very good 10 me
IN his laugh way. Ills ambition was to make me
gentleman: but that was Natures business per-
hans She has failed, he said with smile. How
ever he put me 10 school while he went OH TO INC
diamond fields and in few years came back with
his fortune to fetch mo- lie was one Of those men
who are bound TO make fortunes and to lose them
losc his last one. lie brought me to ENGLAND ana
looked after me while was at the hospital
But how did you get to Rome p l asked Tor
he had STOPPED rs if he could not go on without
encouragement.
"Ue took me there, or perhaps I took him, for
VIC went together partly because he wanted to see
turopc and rarity because he said lie wanted to
see if | really could talk any language buI my
own after all the schooling for Which he had PAID
Al Rome there was chance for another doctor,
and there ultimately l settled down. Uncle Joe
went back TO Graham's Town and died. lie
stopurd for a moment. II wish had been with
him lie said in low voice. but was not
WAS he good TO your mother?
"IIe was good to everyone in rough way
sometimes tina, one approached ones sell later on
for not better understanding. lie was very gV'o
10 nv mother and to Oracle, whom he alec had
educated lie became very great on education In
his latter years, and used TO say that money was
thrown away ON you unless you knew now 10
spend it,.
"Iow did you come to be called Millet?'
asked. putting of MS long us possible tho gre"C
business Of his coming. | was SO s'asseieu, Do
taken abacl< at his proving to be thomas. Morc
over there was only one thing for me TO do, and
moi forever be ashamed OF myself, and knew IT,
\ ct 1 could not bring myself TO do 1t heartily
"IIc left me some money, and wished me TO take
his name which was very like Tho rlch uncle III
the story he answered with the hceunS smile
that was part Of the Fascination Of his face Il
have not siunt any o. l; Se. My practice mas pech
sufficient ] kept IT IN cast lie sJclpc'l' p"t
.tlll went on cCIln. at him. as though h'd
been fascinated thinking Of the days Nh'n ne ua'
carried up Goals and taught May tc 'iyN pduoIeS
| could not Lcln It. II WAS snphbery OF mc IL you
like ,,ut IN my heart thUc was some pride. l
ltney that he Lad come To ask me If he might Try
TO win May for his wife. May my pretty one,
my queen whom 1 should have Thought too good
for n king-hc the boy who had BACKED our shoes
whose mother had kept a mangle lie seemed "
read my thoughts like letter
yes. he said, Il am the boy who used to clean
the knives and boots. and altcrward carried OUT
newspapers every morning
1T doesn't matter in these days what any one
has been. ! said, hcsitatingly, ashamed lhaI hc
should have OWNED my thoughts so well
IF She ever cares for melt IL Too much 10
think Of too great n haRpincSs-but II she ever
does Inc went on in II low voice, perhaps she WIN
bc proud of it, as | am. 1t was honest work, he
said I'm a stubborn voice, and pleasant too'
ba added caily IF / had my own POSITION
should be a nroud man, for being IL doctor Is Vi
course n better thing than carrying out papers
n,, &c !, is all the credit goes 70 the rich uncle,
and is none of mine | Was silent, trying To re-
member who the wcllllnOwn man was VINO hau
been a shoc-blacI, and who ~ was That SOFA ola7CS
and yet became great man. l'ut ~ Is geher"l9
difficult to remember things at the rlshV inom '
you were always good boy" said, thinking
NJ ,hc Thin little face of long ago, and forgetting
the man before me.
Il am glad OF that he answered 10 you
remember my poor mothcr?h he went on, seemln-
rs If ,lc were determined | should realize "i '''
past "She kept a mangle and went out charinS;
She does not like me to remember II now ana
t;race auarrcls with me il | mention it, Ana nc
laughed the short quick laugh OF II man VINO mas
n sense of humOr but does not always pe.ray IT,
no Won remember the dcy | wished you all good
hive how. when / was going of to sea- POOR
uule boy without a penny save the present. you
had given me, you kissed me, just as If had been
your own son? IL has been my wild dream llaI
some day / should really be your soh-wonI you
let il come true ?" he asked eagerly ana lcah'iiI
,,,ora no tried TO see my face better. But L
~ FRY myself